Capped die strike carries both obverse and reverse brockages

This Italian 2002 10-cent euro coin has distinctly marked rings on each face that lie just inside the design rim. Images by Mike Diamond.

A complete ring hugs the internal margin of the design rim on each face of this Irish 1996 5-penny coin. Images by Mike Diamond.

The die cap that struck this planchet rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise immediately before it clashed with the reverse die. It then struck the planchet that became this coin. Images by Mike Diamond.

Capped die strikes (planchets struck by die caps) are endlessly
variable in their designs and design combinations. Particularly
interesting are those pieces that show two or more sets of design
elements. Previous columns have discussed brockage-counterbrockage
combinations (Nov. 12, 2012) and multiple brockages (Sept. 26, 2010).

Recently, error dealer Fred Weinberg sent me a three-coin
progression with an unfamiliar combination. The obverse face of each
1975 Lincoln cent shows an incomplete brockage of both the reverse and
obverse designs.

As with brockage-counterbrockage and multiple brockage errors, a
number of possible paths could result in a die cap that leaves
brockaged elements from both faces.

Scenario 1: A flip-over, double-struck cent lands on top of a
planchet and gets struck a third time. It then sticks to the hammer
(obverse) die.

Scenario 2: A flipped-over cent intrudes partway into the striking
chamber between an obverse die cap and an underlying, well-centered
planchet. When struck, the intrusive cent sticks to the working face
of the die cap.

A close inspection quickly eliminated these and several other
relatively straightforward scenarios. The first coin in the
progression shows a slightly expanded, incuse, mirror-image version of
the reverse design interrupted by two significant gaps. One gap
contains an incuse, mirror-image date (1975) and a faint impression of
the front of Lincoln’s coat.

These obverse design elements occupy a low mound with soft margins
that infiltrate the surrounding Lincoln Memorial design. A second gap
appears in the middle of and above the steps of the inverted memorial.
This gap is occupied by a raised ghost image of Lincoln’s head that
bled through the thinned metal of the die cap from the obverse die.

All three scenarios would predict an obverse brockage that would
be recessed or that would at least lie at the same level as the
reverse brockage.

All three scenarios would predict a sharply demarcated boundary
between obverse and reverse design elements.

Scenario 1 would alternatively predict overlap and intermingling
of obverse and reverse design elements. In Weinberg’s coin, there is
no intermingling. A fourth scenario is therefore needed, one that
interprets Weinberg’s cent as a clashed cap strike consisting of a
primary brockage (the incuse obverse elements) and a secondary
brockage (the incuse reverse elements).

A clashed cap strike occurs when an obverse die cap collides with
the reverse die when a planchet fails to be fed into the striking
chamber. The clash generates a fresh set of raised reverse design
elements on the working face of the die cap while simultaneously
erasing some of the original elements present before the clash
(Collectors’ Clearinghouse, Aug. 30, 2010).

A clashed cap strike consisting of an expanded, rotated (90
degrees), primary brockage and an unexpanded secondary brockage is
also shown here.

The following sequence of events is likely responsible for the
three 1975 Lincoln cents.

Step 1: A struck cent flips over and lands on top of a presumably
well-centered planchet. The cent is inserted about 5 to 10 percent
off-center or was struck off-center to a similar degree.

Step 2: The two discs are struck together, with the bottom disc
possibly surrounded by the collar.

Step 3: The bottom coin is ejected and the top coin sticks to the
obverse (hammer) die.

Step 4: The top coin — now a die cap — strikes a few planchets,
expanding the date and Lincoln’s bust.

Step 5: The die cap strikes the reverse die directly when a
planchet fails to be fed in. This obliterates much of the original
obverse design on the working face of the die cap. Areas of the cap
floor that are recessed avoid the impact and retain the original
obverse design elements.

Step 6: The clashed cap now strikes a succession of planchets,
among which are Weinberg’s cents.

Judging from the two more-degraded examples, in which Lincoln’s
ghost is stronger, the mound containing the incuse date and the front
of Lincoln’s coat are aligned with the die recess corresponding to the
back of Lincoln’s coat. The floor of the die cap molded itself to this
recess, protecting these design elements from the clash.

Similarly, the raised ghost of Lincoln’s head represents where the
floor of the cap sank into the corresponding recess in the die face.
We don’t see any preserved brockaged obverse design elements here
because this portion of the original obverse design was presumably
effaced by strikes previous to and following the clash.

Coin World’s Collectors’ Clearinghouse department does
not accept coins or other items for examination without prior
permission from News Editor William T. Gibbs. Materials sent to
Clearinghouse without prior permission will be returned unexamined.
Please address all Clearinghouse inquiries to cweditor@coinworld.com or to
800-673-8311, Ext. 172.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.